Parliamentary elections in Nagorny Karabakh were legitimate, democratic and transparent in all aspects, Laszlo Kemeny, Professor of Political Science (Hungary), who observed the latest elections in Nagorny Karabakh, told ArmInfo.
Kemeny said it was his second visit to Nagorny Karabakh. "As observer, I first visited Karabakh during the presidential election in 2012. On May 3, I was among 110 accredited foreign observers in Artsakh. Together with my 9 colleagues from Belgium, Hungary, Czech Republic, Estonia, and Israel we represented the International expert Center for Electoral Systems (ICES). Significant changes have been made to the country over the last three years. It is evident that the country has become better organized, the living standards have been improved, and the people are more confident now," he said.
Kemeny said observers met with the Nagorny Karabakh president, the prime minister, parliament speaker, foreign minister, CEC chairman, and the leaders of the political parties running for the parliament.
"Members of our delegation analyzed the preparations for the elections, the quality of related laws and rules based on the NKR Constitution, and the transparency of the election campaigns. Our specialists observed the voting process at 78 polling stations. In its final communique, the Observation Mission said the elections were held in conditions of democratic and competitive fight and the turnout was very high - above 70%. International observers also welcomed the high quality of organization and conduct of the elections in Nagorny Karabakh saying it is another step towards building a legitimate democratic state," the Hungarian expert said.
Kemeny believes that not acknowledged by the world but existing for over 20 years Nagorny Karabakh Republic is developing dynamically.
"The elections once again proved to the world community that the most important thing for the population of the given territory is to have own will i.e. the right to the self-determination. The people of Artsakh have liberated their historical motherland at great cost and are now proudly developing it and caring for it. The elections showed that this independent state is viable and its people have a high feeling of political responsibility even in the current tense international situation. I cannot say whether such behavior of the Karabakh people will lead to the international recognition of the NKR, but one thing is clear for me: 'unrecognized states' are becoming reality, becoming the subjects of the world community, as their own peoples 'recognize' and legitimate them," Kemeny said.
Commenting on the negative response by some European countries to the elections, the Hungarian professor said those who do not recognize the existence of other countries, they do not remember the history of their own countries. The expert said every nation that passed the path of establishment as an independent 'national state,' passed the path of the international recognition and many new states passed that path through war. The world community needs time to recognizer a new country as a full member of its 'recognized' world, Kemeny said. "I am sure that the countries, more precisely, their leaders, who hastily opposed the recognition of the NKR, will have to face reality sooner or later. The reality is the Artsakh people's willingness and aspiration for a democratic and prospering country that would cooperate with the world," the Hungarian expert said.